Predation is one of the processes by which one organism exploits another. Others are herbivory, parasitism, and disease. What distinguishes each of these processes, including predation, from the others? We can justify discussing these varied processes under the heading of exploitative interactions because each involves one organism making its living at the expense of another. By what “currency” would you measure that expense (e.g., energy, fitness)?

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Predators kill and consume other organisms. Herbivores consume
live plant material but do not usually kill plants. Parasites live
on the tissues of their host but not generally killing it.
Pathogenic organisms induce disease, a debilitating condition, in
their hosts. The currency generally used to measure the effects of
these interactions is fitness, that is, the effects of the
interaction on the survival and reproduction of members of the
exploited population.